Holding device for a connector associated with an electrically controlled automotive mirror

ABSTRACT

A holding device for a connector associated with an electrically controlled automotive mirror is provided such that the connector becomes fixed to a mirror unit by a cylindrical portion integrally formed in a bracket mounted to a side of a housing adapted for connection to an automotive vehicle body. Due to the provision of the cylindrical portion, the connector can be fixed to the mirror unit in a simple manner. With the connector being fixed to the mirror unit, connections between the connector and a mated connector provided in automotive vehicle body may be made in a much easier fashion.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/735,887, filed Jul.25, 1991, U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,214 issued Aug. 24, 1993,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holding device for a connectorassociated with an electrically controlled automotive mirror, and moreparticularly, to a device for fixing a connector to a portion of amirror unit, wherein the connector is provided at an end of the wiringextending from an electrical driving device for controlling theautomotive mirror.

2. Description of the Prior Art

An electrically controlled automotive mirror is generally provided witha connector at one end of the wiring extending from an electricallydriving device used to position the automotive mirror. The connector isdesigned to be connected to another mated connector provided on a mainharness provided in the body of an automotive vehicle.

If the mirror is to be mounted on the body of the vehicle, it isnecessary to connect the connectors to each other in advance. Typically,a worker must use both hands for connecting the connectors together,while holding the mirror unit under his arm. This method tends todecrease working efficiency.

To cope with the above difficulty, the Japanese Unexamined Utility ModelPublication No. Hei. 2-48450 discloses an automotive mirror unitincluding a housing for housing an electrically driving device, a mirrorbase onto which the housing is mounted and a connector provided at oneend of a wiring extending from the electrically driving device, theconnector being held onto the mirror base.

In the disclosed mirror unit, the connector is inserted into and fittedto an opening formed in the mirror base, and securely fixed to themirror base by means of screws.

With this arrangement, if the mirror unit is to be mounted onto anautomotive vehicle body, a worker can grasp the mirror unit with onehand and a mated connector provided in the automotive vehicle body withthe other hand, and directly connect two connectors together.

The disclosed arrangement, however, suffers from the following problems:

In order to fix the connector to the mirror base by means of the screws,it is necessary not only to form holes for the screws on the mirrorbase, but also to form projecting pieces having holes for the screws onthe connector to be fixed.

Accordingly, the generally or already used connector cannot be used forthe disclosed arrangement, and therefore, the specific connector havingthe projecting pieces formed with the holes is required for thearrangement.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aholding device for a connector associated with an electricallycontrolled automotive mirror, in which the connector can be connected toanother mated connector with the use of only one hand, thereby improvingworking efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a holding devicefor a connector associated with an electrically controlled automotivemirror, in which the connector can be held and retained in place with asimple arrangement.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a holdingdevice for a connector associated with an electrically controlledautomotive mirror, in which the connector is not required to havespecific form or arrangement different from the connector conventionallyused in the automotive mirror.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to attain the above-noted and other objects, a holding devicefor a connector associated with an electrically controlled automotivemirror is provided. The connector is adapted for connection to a matedconnector provided in an automotive vehicle body. The holding devicecomprises a mirror unit, adapted for connection to an automotive vehiclebody, including a mirror, an electrically driving device for driving themirror, and a housing for housing the mirror and the electricallydriving device. A member is provided and adapted to be mounted to a sideof the housing adapted for connection to the automotive vehicle body.The member is integrally formed with a cylindrical portion. A connectoris provided at an end of a wiring extending from the electrical drivingdevice. The connector is adapted for insertion into and to be held by aninner surface of the cylindrical portion.

The member is preferably a bracket fixed to the side of the housingadapted for connection to the automotive vehicle body, or a stayrotatably mounted to the side of the housing through a shaft. Theholding device preferably includes a sealing member adapted to bedisposed between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion and anouter surface of the connector. The holding device preferably includes aholder adapted to be fixed to the member and to be engaged with an upperperipheral end of the connector for securing the connector to themember.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate the presently preferredembodiments of the invention and, together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detail description of the preferred embodimentsgiven below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view along the II--II line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along III--III line in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view showing a major part of a secondembodiment of the invention, viewed from an automotive vehicle bodyside;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view along the line VI--VI in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connector holder used in the secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict a first embodiment of the present invention,wherein a mirror unit 20 includes a housing 1, preferably made ofplastic, and a conventional electrically driving device (not shown) fordriving a mirror 2 up and down and right and left, the electricallydriving device being installed within the housing 1. A bracket 3 isprovided on a side of the housing 1, whereby the housing 1 is to bemounted onto an automotive vehicle body. The bracket 3 is made by a zincdie casting, for example, and fixed to the housing 1 by a plurality ofscrews 4. The bracket 3 is formed integrally with a cylindrical portion5 such that the cylindrical portion projects therefrom and directsinwardly of the housing 1. The cylindrical portion 5 includes a wide end5a and a narrow end 5b so as to form a step portion 5c on an innercylindrical wall of the cylindrical portion 5 near the narrow end 5b.

A connector 7 is provided at tip ends of wiring 6 extending from theelectrically driving device installed in the housing 1. The connector 7is preferably made of plastic, and includes a main portion 7a forhousing terminals (not shown) connected to conductors of the wiring 6,and a holding portion 7b for retaining and holding the wiring 6. Theconnector 7 has such a rectangular cylindrical shape that the wide mainportion 7a and the narrow holding portion 7b adjoin each other through aslope portion 7c. A rubber sealing member 8 having a rectangularcylindrical or frame-like shape, is formed with a flange 8a projectingoutwardly from one end thereof. The sealing member 8 is adapted to befitted to the holding portion 7b of the connector 7 such that the flange8a side is opposed to the slope portion 7c. The connector 7 with thesealing member 8 fitted therearound, is inserted into the cylindricalportion 5 from the wide open end 5a side of the cylindrical portion 5 sothat the holding portion 7 b of the connector 7 is held and retained inplace on the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 5 through the sealingmember 8. In advance of the insertion of the connector 7 into thecylindrical portion 5, the wiring 6 having the connector 7 at its oneend is inserted into the cylindrical portion 5 from the wide open end 5aside of the cylindrical portion 5.

When the connector 7 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 5 so thatthe holding portion 7b is held though the sealing member 8 onto thenarrow open end 5b, the slope 5c of the connector 7 depresses the flange8b of the sealing member 8 against the step portion 5c of thecylindrical portion 5. With the elastic characteristic of the sealingmember 8, it is possible not only to attain the sealing or water proofproperty between the connector 7 and the cylindrical portion 5, but alsoto hold the connector 7 in position onto the cylindrical portion 5.

With the connector 7 fitted to and held by the cylindrical portion 5 ofthe bracket 3, a worker can grasp the mirror unit 20 with one hand and amated connector provided in an automotive vehicle body with the otherhand, and directly connect the two connectors together. This arrangementfor connecting connectors together is far superior and far moreefficient than prior arrangement, in which a worker needed both hands toconnect the connectors and had to use some other means to support themirror unit. Further, it is easier to hold the connector 7 onto thebracket 3 since the connector 7 is merely inserted into the cylindricalportion 5 from the wide open end 5a side of the cylindrical portion 5,so that working efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, with theprovision of the sealing member 8 interposed between the connector 7 andthe cylindrical portion 8, the water proof property therebetween can beimproved.

FIGS. 4-7 depict a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein amirror unit 120 includes a stay 102, preferably made by a zinc diecasting, and a housing 104 pivotably supported by the stay 102 through ashaft 103. The mirror unit 120 further includes a conventionalelectrically driving device (not shown) for driving a mirror 105 up anddown and right and left, the electrically driving device being installedwithin the housing 104.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the stay 102 is integrally formed with acylindrical portion 106.

A connector 108 is provided at tip ends of wiring 107 extending from theelectrically driving device installed in the housing 104. The connector108 is preferably made of plastic, and includes a main portion 108a forhousing terminals connected to conductors of the wiring 107, and aholding portion 108b for retaining and holding the wiring 107. Theconnector 108 has such a rectangular, cylindrical shape that the widemain portion 108a and the narrow holding portion 108b adjoin each otherthrough a slope portion 108c.

A connector holder 109 is adapted for fixing the connector 108 to thestay 102. The connector holder 109 is preferably made of plastic, andincludes a fitting opening portion 110 to be fitted around an outerperipheral surface of the connector 108, two retaining portions 111,respectively projecting from opposing sides of the opening portion 110,and a mounting piece 112 protruded from a lateral side of the openingportion 110 and formed with a hole 112a for mounting the connectorholder 109 onto the stay 102. Each of the retaining portions 111 has a"L" shape in cross section. The connector holder 109 is preferablyformed with another fitting opening portion 115 for an additionalconnector.

In addition, the stay 102 is formed with a connector holder mountingprotrusion 113 for mounting the connector holder 109 onto the stay 102,and with three mirror unit mounting protrusions 114 for mounting themirror unit 120 onto the automotive vehicle body.

In order to fix the connector 108 onto the stay 102, the holding portionof the connector 108 is first inserted into and fitted to thecylindrical portion 106 of the stay 102 so that the slope portion 108ccontacts a distal end of the cylindrical portion 106. The connectorholder 109 is applied to the connector 108 fitted onto the cylindricalportion 106 such that the fitting opening portion 110 is fitted aroundthe main portion 108a, and then the connector holder 109 is fixed to thestay 102 by threadingly engaging a screw 116, which is inserted into thehole 112a of the mounting piece 112, with the connector holder mountingprotrusion 113. With the connector holder 109 fixed to the stay 102, theretaining portions 111 depress upper peripheral ends of the connector108 and retain the connector 108 in place, to thereby prevent theconnector 108 from falling off from the stay 102. In addition, theprotrusions 114 and wall portions 117 and 118 prevent the connectorholder 109 fixed by the screw 16 from rotatably moving around the screw116.

With the connector 108 fitted and held onto the stay 102 through theconnector holder 109, a worker can grasp the mirror unit 120 with onehand and a mated connector provided in an automotive vehicle body withthe other hand, and directly connect the two connectors together. Thisarrangement for connecting connectors together is far superior and farmore efficient than prior arrangement, in which a worker needed bothhands to connect the connectors and had to use some other means tosupport the mirror unit. Further, due to the provision of the connectorholder, the connector is not required to have specific form orarrangement different from the connector already used in theelectrically controlled automotive mirror, thereby reducing amanufacturing cost. Furthermore, due to the provision of the otheropening portions for the additional connectors, the present invention isapplicable to an automotive mirror having various functions.

Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, representative devices, andillustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures maybe made from such scope of the general invention concept as defined bythe appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A holding device for a connector associated withan electrically controlled automotive mirror, the connector beingadapted for connection to a mated connector provided in an automotivevehicle body, the device comprising:a mirror unit, adapted forconnection to an automotive vehicle body, including a mirror, anelectrical driving device for driving the mirror, and a housing forhousing the mirror and the electrical driving device; a member adaptedto be mounted to a side of the housing adapted for connection to theautomotive vehicle body, the member being integrally formed with acylindrical portion; a connector provided at an end of a wiringextending from the electrical driving device, the connector beingadapted for insertion into and to be held by an inner surface of thecylindrical portion; and a sealing member adapted to be disposed betweenthe inner surface of the cylindrical portion and an outer surface of theconnector.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the member is abracket fixed to the side of the housing adapted for connection to theautomotive vehicle body.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein thesealing member is composed of an elastomeric material.
 4. A mirror unitattachable to a vehicle body, comprising: a housing for supporting amirror and an electrical driving device for driving the mirror;a bracketmounted to a side of the housing for connecting the housing to thevehicle body, the bracket including a generally cylindrical hollowportion; a connector for connecting wiring associated with theelectrical driving device to a mated connector provided in the vehiclebody, the connector insertable into the generally cylindrical hollowportion of the bracket; and a sealing member disposed between an innersurface of the generally cylindrical hollow portion and an outer surfaceof the connector for supporting the connector in the cylindricalportion.
 5. The mirror unit of claim 4, wherein the inner surface of thecylindrical portion includes an inwardly projected ridge and the sealingmember includes a flange supportable by the ridge of the cylindricalportion.